A methodological examination of intimate partner violence-related traumatic brain injury in a national panel survey
Congratulations to NASHIA Innovation Center Director Jill Daugherty and Co-authors on the Publication Of:
A methodological examination of intimate partner violence-related traumatic brain injury in a national panel survey.
This study evaluates whether national online surveys can effectively measure how often intimate partner violence (IPV) results in traumatic brain injury (TBI). Analyzing responses from over 8,700 U.S. adults in the CDC's Rapid Surveys System, researchers found that an estimated 6.0% of all U.S. adults have experienced an IPV-related TBI in their lifetime, demonstrating that internet panel surveys are a viable method for capturing the scope, symptoms, and medical response to these injuries. Overall, the results indicate that millions of Americans - disproportionately women - are affected, yet the vast majority go without a medical evaluation due to underestimating the severity of the injury or being actively blocked from seeking care by an abusive partner.
Key Findings
Approximately 9.0% of women experienced a lifetime possible or probable IPV-related TBI compared to 2.7% of men.
About three-quarters of adults (73.4% of women and 77.1% of men) who suffered an IPV-related head or face injury were never examined by a healthcare professional after their most severe injury.
The primary reason for not seeking care was believing the injury was not serious enough (59.2% of women and 75.8% of men). However, 28.5% of women reported that their current or ex-partner actively prevented them from getting medical care.
Headaches were the most common symptom following an IPV head injury (72.7% of women, 55.3% of men). Women frequently reported feeling dazed, confused, or having trouble thinking straight (47.8%), while men frequently reported changes in mood or temperament (34.8%).
Internet panel surveys can effectively collect sensitive IPV-TBI data that healthcare and hospital administrative records usually miss because survivors rarely present for formal clinical treatment.
